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Multnomah County To Require 'Gender-Neutral' Bathrooms

Multnomah County is requiring gender-neutral bathrooms whenever a county-owned building is constructed or renovated. County Chair Jeff Cogen signed the executive order Tuesday morning.

Gender-neutral bathrooms are located on floors 2, 3, 4, and 5 at the Multnomah County Office.

Kathryn Boyd-Batstone /OPB

Cogen says no new budget is needed to implement the new rule.

“The way we are really making change in terms of new bathrooms is by incorporating it into existing projects when we build a new building or do a significant remodel. We’re just making sure that as a part of that project, there’s going to be a gender-neutral bathroom,” he said.

Gender-neutral bathrooms are located on floors 2, 3, 4, and 5 at the Multnomah County Office.

Kathryn Boyd-Batstone/OPB

Cogen says that gender-neutral bathrooms will not only benefit county employees, but the public, too.

Multnomah is one of the first counties in the U.S. to implement a gender-neutral bathroom rule. Philadelphia was the first city to have such a rule.